The Camping Trip That Changed My Perspective on Caregiving
Written by: Renelle Raghavan, Direct Care Professional at ACR Homes, July, 9th, 2026
A few months ago, my resident came to me with the idea of going camping at the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin through a company called Wilderness Inquiry. Wilderness Inquiry is a Bloomington, Minnesota-based nonprofit organization that designs and leads fully guided outdoor adventures, including canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and camping. Its core mission is to eliminate barriers and connect people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to the health and wellness benefits of nature.
I wasn’t sure it would work out, considering my resident's consistent use of a wheelchair and medical equipment in daily life, but little did I know that in 4 months, my co-worker and I would make the adventure happen. An adventure where I found myself packing up my resident’s things to go tent camping in the woods with a group of people we had never met, using outhouses, with little to no cell service. We were in for a ride, and I wasn’t sure whether to be excited or nervous.
Saying yes to the unknown sometimes feels scary. I would be lying to say I wasn’t nervous about the trip, but the second I saw my resident’s eyes light up upon arriving at the campsite, every worry I had washed away. Of course, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. This trip taught me how much work and compromise is needed in the “real world” when aiming to give someone with disabilities a unique life experience. We had gotten used to the environment at ACR Homes with all of the necessary amenities and medical equipment to make things as comfortable and easy as possible. At the Apostle Islands, all we had was a lamp, a cot, an outhouse, and a tent. There was definitely a learning curve. Everything from helping the resident transfer from one place to the next, get dressed, using the facilities, to even just using his wheelchair was harder than it typically was and required more emotional and physical strength than we had ever given. However, we were determined to persevere because the reward was an outstanding life experience for our resident. We weren’t going to let him miss out on a single part of this trip.
Thankfully, we were successful. Our resident made life-changing memories being able to go kayaking on Lake Superior and hiking. A particularly memorable experience was a night hike through the dark woods, something this resident had only dreamed of until this point. Not only were the experiences amazing, but we met some of the most amazing people and staff members that we could have imagined. They made this trip equally as memorable.
Some might not think an experience like this would be possible for people with disabilities, but our resident had a dream, and he was willing to push through the uncomfortable to make it happen. And we were right there with him. I can’t fully explain how rewarding it felt to know that I got to be part of making someone else’s dream come true. Watching him experience something that many people take for granted reminded me why I chose to work in this field in the first place. Although the experience and beauty of kayaking and hiking with our resident was amazing, the most meaningful part was seeing the confidence and pure joy on my resident's face. For those few days, his disabilities didn’t define what he could or couldn’t do. He got to be a camper alongside everyone else. I will carry the memories of this with me for the rest of my life.
Looking back, this trip gave me more than I could have ever imagined. It challenged me, pushed me outside of my comfort zone, taught me to think creatively, and reminded me that some of the most meaningful moments in healthcare happen far away from hospitals and clinics. They happen when someone is given the opportunity to live the life they want to live. Knowing that I was trusted to help make that possible is one of the greatest privileges I have had.
I’m so grateful that ACR Homes facilitates these experiences for residents and that they trust college students like me to care for residents through such an amazing adventure. This job is so much more than just your regular CNA job in a nursing home. I have learned patience, communication skills, empathy, and have found my sense of spontaneity and adventure through all my residents. Each one of them has become a part of me in a different way and has made a lasting impact on my life. This trip is something I will never be able to forget in the best way possible, and I have ACR Homes to thank for that.